Hello and welcome to the Secular Buddhism Podcast, a podcast that presents Buddhist teachings,

concepts and ideas from a secular perspective.

You don't need to use what you learn from Buddhism to be a Buddhist, you can use what you

learn to simply be a better whatever you already are.

I am your host Noah Rosheta and let's jump into today's topic.

This is episode number 179, the topic I have in mind for today, comes from the opening

lines of the Dhammapada.

The Dhammapada is a collection of sains of the Buddha and perhaps one of the most widely

read and best known of the Buddhist scriptures.

According to the Theravada Buddhist tradition, each verse in the Dhammapada was originally

spoken by the Buddha.

You can read the Dhammapada translated on access to insight.org.

There are various translations, you can purchase it as a book, but you can also find it online.

So the opening line of the Dhammapada says, mental states are preceded by mind, have

mind as their master are created by mind.

Now again this depends on which translation you're reading.

There are a few different translations, I like Gil Franzdale's translation of the Dhammapada

where he says, all experiences preceded by mind, led by mind, made by mind, speak or act

with a corrupted mind and suffering follows as the wagon wheel follows the hoof of the

ox.

All experiences preceded by mind, led by mind, made by mind, speak or act with a peaceful

mind and happiness follows like a never departing shadow.

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